Suppressor apparatus and apparatus and method for optimizing and cleaning a suppressor

Abstract

A suppressor (20) includes a suppressor body (22) with an internal suppression chamber (36A) defining an interior passageway (36) for the transmission of projectiles. The inner surface (26) includes an inner threaded surface (32) for movably and threadably receiving a plurality of baffles (50) having outer threads (52). The inner threaded surface (32) extends over a large majority of the length of the internal suppression chamber (36A) defined inside the suppressor body (22) and in common with a large portion of the interior passageway (36). The baffles (50) are threaded into desired locations with a baffle tool (80), and their locations are adjusted to change internal chamber (38) size and optimize the suppressor (20) to the operational parameters of a given firearm and its ammunition. The baffles (50) also include cleaning thread gaps (56) spaced around the circumference of the baffles (50). The suppressor 20 is either permanently or removably mounted to a firearm muzzle or other output of a noise generating item.

1 . A sound suppressor ( 20 ) comprising:
 a suppressor body ( 22 ) including an outer surface ( 24 ), and inner surface ( 26 ), a length extending between a muzzle end ( 28 ), a discharge end ( 30 ), and defining an interior passageway ( 36 ) extending from the muzzle end to the discharge end;   the inner surface ( 26 ) comprises a inner threaded surface ( 32 );   at least one baffle including an outer threaded surface ( 52 ) for threaded engagement with the inner threaded surface of the suppressor body, and the at least one baffle including an interior baffle passageway ( 54 ) through the at least one baffle;   wherein the at least one baffle is threaded into the suppressor body between the muzzle end and the discharge end to create a plurality of interior chambers inside the suppressor body, and   a discharge-end cap fitted on the discharge end of the suppressor body and including an interior cap passageway through the discharge-end cap.   
     
     
         2 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein the baffle comprises a muzzle surface comprising a protruding nipple extending over a nipple length to define an elongated open ring surrounding the nipple, the open ring being operable to temporarily trap discharge gases being discharged through the suppressor. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A suppressor comprising an elongated body with an outer surface and an inner surface; the body includes a muzzle end for attachment to a firearm, a discharge end opposite the muzzle end, and the body defines an interior passageway to transmit a projectile; the inner surface includes a plurality of generally annular ridges operable to create turbulent flow of discharge gases from the firearm. 
     
     
         6 . The suppressor of  claim 5  wherein the ridges comprise threads. 
     
     
         7 . The suppressor of  claim 6  further comprising a plurality of removable insert baffles threaded into the body at spaced locations along a length of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The suppressor of  claim 7  further comprising an end cap threaded into the discharge end. 
     
     
         9 . The suppressor of  claim 7  wherein the baffles comprise a muzzle surface facing the muzzle end, the muzzle surface including an elongated nipple. 
     
     
         10 . The suppressor of  claim 7  wherein the baffles comprise a muzzle surface facing the muzzle end, the muzzle surface including a concave arc. 
     
     
         11 . A suppressor comprising an elongated body with an outer surface and an inner surface; the body includes a muzzle end for attachment to a firearm, a discharge end opposite the muzzle end, and the body defines an interior passageway to transmit a projectile; the inner surface includes an inner threaded surface; a plurality of baffles having an outer baffle thread threadably engaged in the inner threaded surface, and the baffles including cleaning thread gaps defined in the baffle thread, the thread gaps operable to scrape debris from the inner threaded surface and collect the debris for removal from the suppressor. 
     
     
         12 . The suppressor according to  claim 11  wherein the thread gaps have a substantially uniform depth along a length of the baffle. 
     
     
         13 . The suppressor according to  claim 11  wherein the thread gaps have a first depth adjacent a muzzle surface of the baffles, and the first depth being shallow enough that valleys of the outer baffle threads extend through the thread gaps, and having a second depth extending deeper into the baffle creating additional volume for collecting debris during cleaning. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein the inner threaded surface comprises a mono-thread. 
     
     
         23 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein the inner threaded surface extends over more than about 50% of the length of the suppression chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein the inner threaded surface comprises a thread pitch of 16 or less. 
     
     
         24 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein further comprising second baffle threaded into the supressor body. 
     
     
         25 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein the baffle is positioned in different desired locations for different firearms 
     
     
         26 . The suppressor of  claim 5  further comprising a baffle held in a desired location by the generally annular ridges. 
     
     
         27 . The suppressor of  claim 26  wherein the baffle comprises a muzzle firing side having a concave arc. 
     
     
         28 . The suppressor of  claim 27  wherein the baffles comprise removable baffles. 
     
     
         29 . The suppressor of  claim 26  wherein the baffle is positioned in different desired locations for different firearms. 
     
     
         30 . A suppressor ( 20 ) comprising:
 a suppressor body ( 22 ) including an outer surface ( 24 ), and inner surface ( 26 ), a length extending between a muzzle end ( 28 ), a discharge end ( 30 ), and defining an interior passageway ( 36 ) extending from the muzzle end to the discharge end;   at least one baffle including an outer surface ( 52 ) for engagement with the inner surface of the suppressor body, and the at least one baffle including an interior baffle passageway ( 54 ) through the at least one baffle; and   wherein the at least one baffle is placed at a desired location in the suppressor body between the muzzle end and the discharge end to create a plurality of interior chambers inside the suppressor body.   
     
     
         31 . The suppressor according to  claim 30  further comrising a plurality of baffles positioned in a plurality of desired locations along the length of the suppressor body. 
     
     
         32 . The suppressor according to  claim 31  wherein the plurality of baffles are positioned in the plurality of locations customized for a firearm. 
     
     
         33 . The suppressor according to  claim 30  wherein the desired location of the baffle can be changed to customize the suppressor.